The American bald eagle

The name Haliaeetus leucocephalus, derives from Greek hali “sea”, aiētos “eagle”, leuco “white”, cephalos “head”. Literally, the name is the white-haded sea eagle.

The name “bald eagle” correlates with figurative classic Latin reference for the word leucos, as in literary descriptions of “barren, wintry lands”. Bald eagles do not migrate for winter, and US Alaska has the biggest population of them in the world.

We can view images of the white-haded sea eagle over Wikimedia Commons, and read about it in Wikipedia.

The bald eagle is a national symbol of the United States of America. The Continental Congress included the bird in the Great Seal, in 1782.

Not everyone was happy with the choice. Benjamin Franklin wrote in one of his letters,

For my own part. I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen the representative of our country. He is a bird of bad moral character. He does not get his living honestly … besides, he is a rank coward: The little king bird not bigger than a sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the district.

Bald eagles have been termed “opportunistic feeders”, indeed (Wikipedia). The term means they adapt to habitats. Preying on fish is actually easy to the birds, and well, we hardly could expect whaling, by any bird at all.

If we are curious about American landscapes and habitats, we can go the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration websitewww.photolib.noaa.gov.

As regards courage, we should not expect bald eagles to fight in extents or areas they do not recognize for own or important. However, it might be very dangerous to try approaching a nest, when the parents are around.

BALD EAGLE NESTLINGS, PHOTO CREDIT: DAVE MENKE

All bald eagles and golden eagles are under the Protection Act. Federal laws forbid damaging, disturbing, possession, or trading of the American eagle. Bald eagles hatch reliant on temperatures. They may hatch in spring or fall, dependent on the geographical area.

The American bald eagle symbolizes good language skills, in our grammar course. If we are curious about the species, we can get more American bald eagle information at www.baldeagleinfo.com.

We also can support the species financially, with the American Eagle Foundation, www.eagles.org.

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Recent Posts: Teresa Pelka

I have never interpreted the Great Seal Novus Ordo Seclorum as a New Order of the Ages. I realized my comprehension was different from the official, over the Internet. With Thomas Paine’s Common Sense and the Declaration of Independence at my side, I will try to defend my view: the Seal says a new nation has become.

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